Exhibit: Pandemic Physiognomy by Syahidah Osman

On View: November 12, 2021 – January 30, 2022, Warrior Way and Muse Galleries, W-16

The Workhouse Arts Center is proud to present Pandemic Physiognomy, a solo exhibition by Syahidah Osman. Syahidah’s work is an intimate peek into the struggles of juggling motherhood, an erratic work demands and her mental commentary on the current social challenges the Western world is facing in contrast with issues being faced by women in Third World countries during the period of 2019 through 2021 amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic.

For purchase inquiries, please contact Gallery Manager, Audrey Miller at audreymiller@workhousearts.org or (703) 584-2911.

Syahidah Osman

*Optic, Acrylic on ACU “Fatigues”, 2021*

Syahidah expresses her thoughts of hope and emotional angst through abstraction of the scenery and maps she views through the road trips and hikes taken in Virginia and the Carolinas, and portraitures of strangers from her workplace, as well as her beloved sons and husband. The paintings represent the continuous conversation and conclusion to her outlook.

Syahidah’s husband, Major Chris Bolz, has served in the Army for over 18 years as an engineer and Special Forces officer. He has served in combat and operational deployments in Afghanistan and throughout Asia. As an Army spouse, Syahidah’s family has lived in many locations in America and abroad where her husband has served, making a diverse blend of friends. The mingling of Syahidah and her husband’s backgrounds and ideas have impacted both her art and their children’s worldviews. Her artwork is the topography of her soul.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT – 2019 BC (Before Covid)

*Distance, Acrylic and watercolor on paper, 2018*

2019, the end of teenage years for the 21st century and entering the 20s. Everything seemed so fluid, with endless possibilities (much like my work shifts), yet unpredictable like the next rain forecast on a hot summer day, but oh so routine, like a faithful fortnightly paycheck which beams hope onto my credit balance. I am religious. I pray for a healthy 8 hours of sleep. Sorry. I am a moonlighting liar. Let’s be realistic. 5 hours. I pray these eye bags seek residence elsewhere that beckons their bulge, and I am not talking about the nether regions. Is this when my cervical dysplasia started? I don’t know for certain. It’s my body but my cervix is for their eyes only, the dear doctors said. Even with a speculum it’s difficult to see what’s happening in between my legs. However, in between the hours of supper and breakfast, it is a different story. My eyesight is sharper, and my focus heightened. My lips won’t stop parting for Mr. Theobroma Cocoa. Science said he is full of Magnesium. He fills me up real good. It’s crack cocaine to my nerves.

8:02 AM , 2000 Pencil on paper, 29 in x 21 in, $800 — **8:02 AM**, 2000
Pencil on paper, 29 in x 21 in, $800

Apple of My Eye , 2010 Ink on paper, 21 in x 26 in, $200 — **Apple of My Eye**, 2010
Ink on paper, 21 in x 26 in, $200

Hurt Me Not , 2013 Acrylic on canvas, 30 in x 30 in, $300 — **Hurt Me Not**, 2013
Acrylic on canvas, 30 in x 30 in, $300

Key to My Heart , 2014 Acrylic on canvas, 36 in x 24 in, $500 — **Key to My Heart**, 2014
Acrylic on canvas, 36 in x 24 in, $500

X , 2014 Acrylic on canvas, 24 in x 24 in, $500 — X, 2014
Acrylic on canvas, 24 in x 24 in, $500

Souse , 2014 Ink on paper, 23 in x 19 in, $200 — **Souse**, 2014
Ink on paper, 23 in x 19 in, $200

Thawing Too Late , 2014 Ink on paper, 15 in x 21 ¼ in, $200 — **Thawing Too Late**, 2014
Ink on paper, 15 in x 21 ¼ in, $200

Sleeping Solo , 2014 Watercolor and ink on paper, 19 in x 24 in, $200 — **Sleeping Solo**, 2014
Watercolor and ink on paper, 19 in x 24 in, $200

Map , 2016 Ink on Bedsheet, 36 in x 72 in, $370 — **Map**, 2016
Ink on Bedsheet, 36 in x 72 in, $370

Poem - The Cut , 2016 Letterpress, ink on paper, 36 in x 72 in, $50 — **Poem - The Cut**, 2016
Letterpress, ink on paper, 36 in x 72 in, $50

Un Together , 2018 Acrylic and watercolor on paper, 10 ¼ in x 14 in, $200 — **Un Together**, 2018
Acrylic and watercolor on paper, 10 ¼ in x 14 in, $200

Be Quiet , 2018 Acrylic and watercolor on paper, 10 ¼ in x 14 in, $200 — **Be Quiet**, 2018
Acrylic and watercolor on paper, 10 ¼ in x 14 in, $200

Distance , 2018 Acrylic and watercolor on paper, 10 ¼ in x 14 in, $200 — **Distance**, 2018
Acrylic and watercolor on paper, 10 ¼ in x 14 in, $200

By the Beach (featuring Johan) , 2019 Paint on sail, 52 in x 36 in, NFS — **By the Beach (featuring Johan)**, 2019
Paint on sail, 52 in x 36 in, NFS

Maslow 3.7 , 2019 Paint on Sail, 83 ½ in x 35 ¾ in, NFS — **Maslow 3.7**, 2019
Paint on Sail, 83 ½ in x 35 ¾ in, NFS

ARTIST’S STATEMENT – AD 2020 : Anno Domus (In the Year of Being Home)

Home is Singapore genealogically. Domicile is where my spouse and the spores are. America, you got me at mushroom hunting, and long distance would not work for us physically and fiscally. My dad was born in 1938 (he corrects me all the time and says it’s 1939 and we argue about it for 7 seconds before proceeding with our conversations). ‘Truly insignificant,’ I considered when he passed a certain age to ask for the one-year difference, but it matters to him and he matters to me, so I concede. NEVER. He said, NEVER had he seen anything like this. A cold virus killing many. Lockdown. Mask Mandate. Quarantine. As an orphan, he had been through a lot, but the most graphic retelling involves him witnessing the Japanese invading Singapura. The British were in our country for a hot minute and then out My dad, like me, loves being out too. The only thing that keeps him home is perhaps a heavy tropical thunderstorm, debilitating fever, projects around the house and having family or friends over for dinner. My parents have mastered the art of entertaining. 2020 marks the year of peak performance in terms of self-care and self-promotion. We became professionals across all industries as the social media deemed us so.

I have mastered engaging all my senses through art. It is endlessly delightful to draw personal conclusions from seeing different faces. That’s how I concluded that I am a natural but secret physiognomist. I work as a front desk agent in a busy hotel and while conversing with guests I study their profile. I do it ALL the time, but not too long lest people think I am rude. Originally the study of physiognomy sees the face as a portal to a person’s characteristics and personalities. It went through a period of popularity, as a dissemination of human attributes to pseudoscience and now has its fair share of critics. I am not judgmental. I really don’t care what people do. I believe in choices. Naivety: To be free in making choices. Me: Keep Quiet and Draw On. When face fatigue sets in, nothing beats nature. Although symmetry reigns supreme in the definition of beauty, it is the utter unruliness of nature, juxtaposed by growth and decay that sprout in random places that wins the game for me.

A-Ok , 2020 Acrylic on ACU “Fatigues”, 15 in x 36 in, $320 — **A-Ok**, 2020
Acrylic on ACU “Fatigues”, 15 in x 36 in, $320

Doing It , 2020 Acrylic on canvas, 31 ½ in x 31 ½ in, $1,730 — **Doing It**, 2020
Acrylic on canvas, 31 ½ in x 31 ½ in, $1,730

Waterfall , 2020 Acrylic on canvas, $480 — **Waterfall**, 2020
Acrylic on canvas, $480

Shaken , 2020 Acrylic on canvas, $370 — **Shaken**, 2020
Acrylic on canvas, $370

ARTIST’S STATEMENT – AD 2021: Anno Delictum (In the Year of Offense)

*In and Out, Up and Down, Acrylic on canvas, 2021*

I had COVID. My head pounded and my nostrils endured coma. I sniffed and nothing registered. Being a heavy sniffer, it was difficult. It’s similarly difficult not to bring up potentially offensive topics this year. BLM. Gender identities. Asian Attacks. I see faces needing to constantly pose a neutral stance; short of being a poker face but less jarring than a stare. It’s difficult to study a face with a properly worn mask. I cannot see a smile. Actually, it’s not true. People do smile. I see it in the folds of their outer corners of their eyelids. Babies born after 2019 in the mask wearing era will definitely have better eye recognition. Shortly after receiving mask mandates, we had a brief lapse of a no mask wearing period. A period so short, if you are female, it could be a sign of pregnancy instead of a true menstruation. Which, as a FYI, sometimes hurts and sometimes doesn’t, depending on whether you want a baby or not. Also much like the pain behind the ears wearing a tight mask. We don’t talk about it though. All ears indeed. We are back to wearing a mask again. Yes, even if we are in the woods because God forbid Lollapalooza lands in the middle of the trail. Oh wait, there is no need for a mask. So, keep on smiling and appear friendly. Just not in a creepy fashion.

Loungewear skyrocketed in sales along with my purchases of eyeliners. Goodbye Kohls. Hello Blue, Purple, Sapphire, Green…ready to bejewel my eyelids. Could I be the next inSTARgram? Rest in Peace, lipstick. See you on the other side. Many masks have been victims of thine deadly ruby stains. Bloody killers.